Inlaying metallic harness-trimmings and the like with plastic materials



UNITED STATES PATENT Urrrce FREDERICK enema, or

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY,

lNLAYlNG METALLIC HARNEss-Tmiwnmesino THE LIKE WITH PLASTIC MATERIALS,

SPECIFIQATION forming part of Letters Patent No.v.21,6 22. dated May 17, 1381.

f Application filed April 12, 1881. (Specimens) i'lfrimmings and the Like with PlasticMate. rials; and I do her by declare the following to i be a full,clear,and exact description of the inthe art to which it pose, such as gilding, silvering,nickel-plating,a

vention, such as will enable others skilled in appertains to make and use thesame. l y .i

The object of this invention is to enamel, in-

lay, and ornament metallic trimmings for liar-X ness, saddlery, and other similar hardwareh Several methods are now in use for this pur tinning, inlaying with rubber,celluloid, japan, and other like material: 730E391 otthese give good results in such small articles asroscttcs, but areexpensive, since they require costly dies for the inlayiug. In others acontrastingeiiect isproduced by covering depressed sections a 1th: paint or japan; but these depressions are 1eceptacles for dirt, and thefiue effect of a genuv l liquid npondhe ine inlay is never produced.

My inventioneonsists in afiixing directly to the article to be ornamented a hard material, i which will bcoome'plastic with heat, solvents,

or, chemical combinations, and when cold take and hold a high polish.

The essentialfeatnres of theinvcntion aret First, preparing the article by castingwvith "by striking up, a

, suitable depressions for receiving the enamel,

and then heating it and applying the composition in a plastic COIIQllBlOII SO as to completely illlthe depressions, or the article may be i'o'rmcd Second, polishing at thesame timc both the surface of the metal which is not covered by i the enamel and those parts which are so cov-i i ,ered,thereby makingiheexposed metallic portions and theenamelcd parts flush \vithcach i or other liquid whilev polishing,

i amel shall not be softened.

t other. Therongher grindingfinay,however have bcciidoiie tothe castin' before a )l 'in H i i I M a- I, h

i the inlay. 7

Third, in keeping the artielccool with water so that the on i i i chemical combinations, are

a 5o The following description will enable those skilled in the art to which my invention relates to make and use the same.

, e The article tobe enameled is caster struck up in diesin the usual manner for makingharnessmountingsssuch as buckles, terrets, rings, roscttes, hooks, clasps, and the like-of an y suit able metal. White-metal, bronze, brass, iron, and the various alloys and metals capalile of being cast or struck up, and which are suiliciently strong, are all suitable for the purpose. In the process of casting or striking up? depressions are formed to receive :the inlay. These, epressions inightbe formed by the use of tools andmachines; hot as the method of castingistlie cheapest it is to be preferred. :Hlhearticle ihusf formed is then heated to such temperatere as that at which the inlay orcompositionis plastic. The composition in a,plasticconilitiouisnext pressed into the depressions so as to completely fill thenn B y this treatment the inlay will adhere without the necessity-bf undercutting. When cold the article completed by polishing in the manner coinmen in iinishing metal articles of this kind. By applyingirater or other cold article during" this operation the greatest hrilliancy of finish is secured.

; I-(lO: not limit myself to anyone particular plastic compound for theinlaygas there are many now in use in thearlts which will serve my purpose, the essential thing being that they may be rendered plastic by'*"heat,solvents, or hard and not too brittlewhen cold, andcapableoi' taking and holdin high polish. The compounds formed oi shellac as aibasisliind to answer well. The bestcolor i'or contrasting with the metals named above is black but other colors may be used, astaste or fancy may dictate. The form of a broad band of the enamel with narrow metal borders gi VCS line effect. 'ihe nietal and the enamel orinlaying being flush with each other, the article isboth easy to polish 'aiid'to keep clean wheninuse a condition whichalso greatly increases the beauty of the article. Having thnsdescribedmy invention, what Iclaim, andilcsireto secure by Letters Patent of the United b tates, is-e 1 i The process herei ii described ol' enamelin g and inlaying' ncial articles, such as herein do- I German silver, 7

scribed, with plastic composition, consisting in forming the article with recesses in its surface in form of :lesign to be produced, filling the recesses with the plastic material, and then polishing the metal and the inlaying, all substantially as set forth.

2. In the process of inlaying metal articles with plastic materials which do not shrink in cooling, heating the metal, applying the plastic composition to it while heated, and pressing them together so as to produce a firm adhesion, as described.

3. The process of inlaying metal articles with plastic materials of the character herein described, consisting in fixing the composition upon the article and then polishing the composition and metal together, so as to produce an even surface, as described.

4-. The processof finishingarticles composed of a body of metal and an inlaying oi plastic composition, consisting in applying cold water or other liquid to the surface while grinding or polishing, as and for thepurpose set forth.

5. The new article of manufacture herein described, consisting of a body of metal with re cesses, and the recesses entirely filled with plastic material, so as to be flush with the metal, and the whole polished, sn istantially as set forth.

6. Inlaid metallic harness-trimmings having a broad band of inlaying and a narrow metallic border, each flush with the other, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I. ailix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

I FltlGDlEl-tlUK CRANE Witnesses l'lALSEY M. BARRETI, EDWARD N. CRANE. 

